Ohio expands Medicaid coverage for pregnant women, foster children

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has expanded Medicaid coverage for pregnant women and foster children about two weeks sooner than expected. (Source: "Medicaid coverage kicks off early, agency says," Dayton Daily News, Jan. 15, 2007.) The expansion was approved as part of the current state budget and set to begin no later than Jan. 31. But according to ODJFS spokesman Dennis Evans, the department decided it could afford to implement the expansion now. "For pregnant women, the expansion will increase income eligibility from 150% to 200% of the poverty limit, or from about $20,000 to about $26,000 in the case of a two-person household. For foster children, the expansion extends coverage from age 18 to 21." The expansion is expected to cost $19.6 million a year in state and federal funds for the pregnancy coverage and $19.6 million a year for foster kids. (Source: "Medicaid coverage expanded for foster kids, pregnant women," Dayton Daily News, Jan. 16, 2007.)